Carpet stretcher



Se t. 1,1925. 1,55iQ712 R. TOON CARPET STRETCHER Filed Oct. 25,- 1924 Inventor"; Rufus T0071 ttor nag.

Patented Sept. 1, 1925.

UNITED STATES RUFUS TOON, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

CARPET STRETCHER. 7

Application filed; October 25, 1924. Serial No. 745,876.

To all whom it may concern, 7

Be it known that I, Burns TooN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and.

State of California, have invented a new and useful Carpet Stretcher, of which a specification is set forth below.

' In this specification, and the accompan ing drawing, I shall describe and show a preferred form of my invention, and specifitcally mention certain of its more important objects. I do not limit myself to the forms disclosed, since various changes andadaptations may be made therein without departing from the essence of my invention as hereinafter claimed; and objects and advantages, other than those specifically mentioned. are included within its scope. I

My invention relates to stretchers adapted for use in laying carpets, and among its principal objects are; first, to provide a tool of this-type in which the penetrating depth of the carpet engaging prongs may be regu lated at will; second, to afford facilities for exerting a powerful thrust on the tool parallel to the carpet and in close proximity thereto; and, ,third,fto provide a construction' for. this purpose 1 that is strong, light in weight, and relatively inexpensive.

. My objects are attained in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in

which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete tool; and.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the head of the tool on a somewhat larger scale, certain parts being shown broken to more conveniently disclose details of the construction.

Similar reference numerals refer to simi- I lar parts throughout both-views.

There is a very considerable variation in the thickness of carpets and it is most desirable not to have the stretcher prongs penetrate much, if any, beyond its back. Otherwise the prongs-are practically certain to tear the lining. In certain cases carpets are temporarily laid over polished hard-wood floors and these should not be marred by the prongs. In still other cases carpets are laid over cement floors and tacked to a nailing strip adjacent the wall. In the latter case, if the stretcher prongs penetrate too far, they will be quickly dulled and rendered useless.

My improved stretcher comprises a rectangular head 8 having an integral palm portion i-and a rearwardly directed shank 5 adapted for slipping into the end of a thin I tubular steel handle 6. The head may be made of cast aluminum alloy and, if shank 5 is sufliciently long and made to fit the tubular handle snugly, these parts may be very quickly and conveniently assembled for use. At the other end of thehandle there is a knee pad 7 by means of which the tool may be given a forwardly directed blow by the users knee. The head has a downwardly directed flange 8 at the rear to resist the backward thrust of the prong block which is attached to the under surface of the head by means of countersunk screws (not shown).

My preferred form of prong block consists of a rectangular piece 9, of three-ply laminated hard wood. It has a brass plate 10 at the bottom, and the best appearance is bad by turning this plate upward at the front and rear edges as shown at lland 12 respectively. A number of tapered holes, in a suitable regulararrangement, are drilled and reamed through the prong block and its bottom plate for the accommodation of the tapered prongs 13. Those holes are all'parallel to each otherfand oblique to the plane of the block, so that the prongs I will be directedforwardly at the proper angle.

The prongs 13 are provided with spherical heads 14. They are forced into the holes in the prong block until their heads are just flush with the upper surface of the block. When the block is mounted upon the under surfaceof head 3 the prongs are rigidly held in' place, but any of them may readily be replaced by removing the prong block from the head. The horizontal thrust of the carpet 15 will be resisted by the bearing 1 of the prongs against plate 10 as at 16.

when the toolis laid upon the carpet in position for use. In this position the prongs may be pressed into the carpet, but only so far as the pedestal screws will permit.

I claim as my invention:

1. A carpet stretcher comprising; a head with carpet-engaging prongs protruding from its under surface; and screw-threaded stops intermediate the prongs adapted for limiting the penetrating depth of the prongs.

2. A carpet stretcher comprising; a head with carpet-engaging prongs protruding from its under surface; and pedestal headed screw stops intermediate the prongs adapted for limiting the penetratin depth of the prongs.

8. A carpet stretcher comprising; a head with carpet-engaging prongs protruding from its under surface; and screws having pedestal heads intermediate the prongs adapted for limiting the penetrating depth of the prongs; said screws being adjustable at will at the upper side of the head.

4. A carpet stretcher comprising; a head with renewable carpet-engaging prongs protruding from its under surface; and screws having pedestal heads intermediate the prongs adapted for limiting the penetrating depth of the prongs; said screws extending through the head and being adjustable at their upper ends at will.

5. A carpet stretcher comprising; a head with a removable prong-block attached to its under surface; carpet-engaging prongs protruding downwardly from said block; and screws having pedestal heads intermediate the prongs adapted for limiting the penetrating depth of the prongs; said screws being adjustable at will at the upper side of the head.

6. A carpet stretcher comprising; a head with a removable prong-block attached to its under surface; renewable carpet-engag ing prongs inserted in tightly fitting holes in said block and protruding downwardly from its under surface and screws having pedestal heads intermediate the prongs adapted for limiting the penetrating depth of the prongs; said screws extending upwardly through the block and head and being adjustable at their upper ends at will.

7. A carpet stretcher comprising; a head with a removable wooden prong-block attached to its under surface; renewable carpet-engaging prongs inserted in tightly fitting holes in said block and protruding downwardly from its under surface; and screws having pedestal heads intermediate the prongs adapted for limiting the penetrating depth of the prongs; said block having a metal plate on its under surface adapted for resisting the lateral thrust of the prongs; and said screws extending upwardly through the block and head, and being adjustable at their upper ends at will.

8. A carpet stretcher comprising; a head with a downwardly extending rear flange and a removable wooden prong-block attached to its under surface against the flange; "renewable carpet-engaging prongs inserted in tightly fitting holes in said block and protruding downwardly from its under surface; and screws having pedestal heads intermediate the prongs adapted for limiting the penetrating depth of the prongs; said block being metal plated on its under surface for resisting the lateral thrust of the prongs; and said screws extending upwardly through the block and head and being adjustable at their upper ends at will.

RUFUS TOON. 

